From Olly and Becky, Commissioners House,Chatham Dockyard, Wedding Band.
We do get some great thank-yous and cards after gigs which we love. I had to post this comment from Becky and Olly it says it all. Sothanks Becky and Olly we had a great day too!
Hi George We are so sorry we wanted to send this email to you as soon as we got back from honeymoon last week but getting back into work has taken it’s toll and delayed things.
Olly and Becky, Commissioners House, Historic Dockyard Chatham, Kent, Wedding Band
The Redfords arrived early today to perform as the wedding band for Olly and Becky’s Kentish Nautical Wedding. The autumn temperatures are with us but the sunshine’s great.. Ideal for wedding pictures!! The photographers were up from Somerset. Becky was particular about having them record her wedding. And when they left we took over and got some great wedding documentary photos in the evening. 
We arrived at Commissioners House in the heart of the Historic Dockyard Chatham to find Becky and friends up to their eyes in table decorations, flowers and hair curlers. 
We set up in the Ballroom, which was to the left of the main entrance and measures about 40 by 20 feet. To its rear there are two sets of French doors leading to the gardens and the marquee beyond. Through the front windows you can look out over the parade ground towards the Yacht Masters House with the River Medway and Dockyard’s Georgian industrial skyline as a backdrop. 
The first dance was planned to start at eight o’clock but guess what.? You guessed it! It was an hour late!! That was great for us as by then the guests are ready to get down and shake it straight away!! 
The room was literally heaving for “Chasing Cars” Olly and Becky’s first dance and wow was it worth waiting for- they looked fabulous. Soon the rest of the guests joined in and the room was jumping. 
No need to play any more slow dances to get people in the mood it was straight in with the up tempo stuff. 
We were sharing the music with Ian Baker from Glitterball Disco who helped out with lighting and his choice of tracks fitted seamlessly with our live music. As we were quite late starting we had very short breaks between our sets so were soon back for the second set. 
As we walked from the dressing room through the entrance hall I noticed Vicky descending the grand staircase. She was carrying a young baby but wasn’t dressed like the other guests she was wearing slacks and a tee shirt and was a “Nanny “ from Babes Childcare Agency (what a great idea). 
Seemed like no time at all and we were into the last set and playing “Poker Face“ by Lady Gaga a recent addition to the set then shouts for more…more kept the band playing to just past the curfew. Sorry about that!! 
Becky and Olly left the Venue in traditional style in a black limo to start their new lives together I know form experience the feeling of being whisked form such a frenzy of activity into the relative calm of the back seat of a sedan..its surreal !! Good luck and God Bless. More photos from this event can be view at The Redfords Facebook photos page.
Winter Wedding-Savings.
If your getting married this winter or know someone that is (January thru March) we have discounts to offer on all band and acoustic duo’s. Speak to George for more info 07711 432598
Julie and Karl, Moxhull Hall, West Midlands, 19th September 2010
The morning started brilliantly. Literally.. Then it turned to a typical autumn day, grey and wet.
Our journey was straightforward and uneventful. We had been asked in the week to link to a new site that gives up to the minute (well 3 minute old!) traffic information. We haven’t linked to any site yet that we’ve not had some experience of so we thought we best to try it out. I need say no more than we arrived 2 hours early!!! So I guess. www.frixo.com is more than worth a plug it does exactly what it says on the tin. Well done Peter Green.
Moxhull Hall sits in its own grounds among the trees on the outskirts of Sutton Coalfield and is quite close to the motorway network and international Belfry Golf Course, however there was no noise or stray golf balls!!
A dedicated Marquee sits in beautiful landscaped gardens and is linked to the Hall by a long tented walkway. Small white paper bags with perforated heart shapes, lit by tea-lights from within, lined the route.
As we arrive the guests are all seated waiting for the arrival of Karl and Julie who are just about to enter the marquee through a double glazed anti room into a large satin lined dining area. We sneak a quick peek through the curtain from behind the bar… above hangs a row of impressive crystal chandeliers. The tables look beautiful set with white linen and decorated with a mass of flowers.
Behind the top table we see there is another area containing a full size white grand piano, two very unusual zebra skin tall back chairs and pieces of modern art.
We are to set up while the guests are eating as the dance area is separate to the dining area and faces across, rather than down the length of the marquee. This is a good idea as it means if you just want to sit and talk while the band or disco play you are not subject to the full volume of the PA as you are sat at right angles to it.
Once the wedding breakfast gets underway the Hotel’s wedding organiser shows us to our stage and dressing room. Set up, ready to sound check and an hour until the first dance we decide to eat. So we head off into the tangled one-way system of Sutton Coalfield. Fortunately we find a Pizza Express fairly quickly. Forty-five minutes and 6 pizzas later we are on our way back to Moxhull Hall.
We sound check to that old favourite Sweet home Alabama and then we are ready to go. The guests seem at ease and gather on the dance floor, cameras ready for the cutting of the cake.
We are sharing the night with Tall Order Road Show who play the first dance “Greatest Day “by Take That. We follow close behind, and start the first set with a song for the Bride Julie and her Father “My Girl” by the Temptations.
We have had a few requests of late for a song for Bride and Father and of course we are always happy to oblige. Both Julie and Karl are confident dancers and delighted their guests with several dance routines.
We played three sets and finished with an encore Chelsea Dagger by The Fratallies. We then sat to relax while Tall Order Road Show took over to played the last couple of wind down slow dances where people could say there thanks or have that last smooch before retiring for the night.
Thanks to those who commented on our performance. It was great playing in the Marquee!! Especially when the guests were so receptive and clearly enjoy the music and the Hotel staff so helpful.
Karl and Julie are staying at Moxhull Hall for a few days rest then off to the Bahamas for their honeymoon cruise. I’m sure the captain will enjoy their company! They are such a lovely couple.
Congrats Julie and Karl
More photos from this event can be seen here on our Facebook Page
Salomons wedding fair, Royal Tunbridge Wells, 12th Sept, 2010
A really early start today traveling to Tunbridge Wells for a Wedding Fair especially after Jon and Claire’s wedding last night which coincidently was also in Tunbridge Wells. The venue for the day is Salomons which is an elegant country mansion in the heart of Kent that offers not only a sumptuous wedding breakfast but a choice of licensed ceremony rooms to exchange those special vows. We are set up as the duo in the body of the actual Theatre and sharing airtime with a massive pipe organ.
We are between Simply Beautiful who specailise in wedding hair designs and Broadview Florists a local florist supplying flowers for all occasions opposite is Becky from Your Beautiful Day who is new to wedding fairs and has found a niche in venue decoration.
She obviously has a flair for colour co-ordination and presentation. We wish her success in her newfound business venture. Nice to see Peter Thompson the Toast Master again we have worked with him before at the Spa Hotel Tunbridge Wells. We particularly remembered that he was a great help and very thorough.
This is the first time we have exhibited at one of the smaller Wedding-Experience events. In the past few years we have performed at their Detling wedding show that regularly attracts over 1200 brides and is lavish in its presentation.
Our first booking today came quite early on. I happened to be in reception when I over heard a group of four asking one of the staff where they could find The Redfords stand. Noticing me the receptionist said “Ah this gentleman can help you”. I promptly gave directions to the Science Theatre (where our stand was situated) and followed closely behind as they ascended the stairs intrigued to learn why they were so intent on finding The Redfords. A short discussion and negotiation later and we were booked. Asking afterwards where they had first heard of The Redfords, Paul explained that they had first seen us play at the Detling wedding show a couple of years ago. It will be a pleasure and close to home at Cooling Castle Barn
Dan our Bass player and I are on duty while Cat and Matt have a break when Katherine and Stephanie arrived at the stand I gave them both a Redfords plectrum and say, “Are you looking for a band?”… “We are both getting married up North so you probably wont be interested” …. “We regularly perform in the North of England so are very interested?” …“Well we have this rather unusual first dance arrangement that includes Poker face by Lady Gaga” “ Wow what a coincidence we were only saying between sets last night that Poker Face would be a good number to add to the list” After a while we gave them both our info pack and they moved on to their next stop.
On his return Matt checks with iPhone App to see if the chords and words are available and he and Cat just sing it out to the amazement on both Stephanie and Katherine who are by now being given a lesson in the intricacies of gentleman’s suit sizes by the Moss Bros team !! Let ‘s hope that this is a good omen and we see ourselves traveling the M1 yet again!! Good luck to them both and now we can add Poker face to our repertoire.
It is lovely to meet so many nice people. Thank you to those couples who have booked The Redfords today and for those who have expressed an interested but as yet have not made up their mind we hope you find exactly what you are looking for.
As a further incentive if you spoke to us today and have read this blog we can offer a 5% discount on quoted prices until the 12th October 2010. And if you get chance come along and catch us at Detling on 24th October for the Wedding experience fair.
